No, losing Matt Duchene for a month or so isn’t a good thing for the Burgundy and Blue’s playoff chances. But in a short-term situation, in a seven-game playoff series, possibly with home-ice, the Avs can withstand this and advance.

First, a history lesson: I was one of the first to proclaim the Avs were done like dinner after they lost Peter Forsberg to a ruptured spleen after the second round in 2001. No way the Avs could win a Cup without Foppa, I said. Judges? (Insert loud buzzer sound here).

The Avs just pulled up their socks, everybody just asked a little more from themselves and they got that Stanley Cup all right. (Of course, that Avs team also had Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake, Adam Foote, Milan Hejduk, Chris Drury and Alex Tanguay, but I digress).

No, this Avs team isn’t as talented as that ’01 squad, and so the loss of Duchene hurts a little more in proportion probably. But here’s how they can still beat Chicago:
– Nathan MacKinnon now moves to center on a line with O’Reilly and McGinn. Assuming he plays like…Nathan MacKinnon…that’s a pretty darn good replacement at center.
– P.A. Parenteau will be back in time for the playoffs. He should take MacKinnon’s spot on a line with Stastny and Landeskog. I’ll take my chances with that line in a best-of-seven.
– John Mitchell has to up his game some at third-line center, and I think he can.
– Erik Johnson, Tyson Barrie and Nick Holden might have to think a bit more offensively now, but they’re capable of producing more there.
– And for goodness sakes, Semyon Varlamov has to stand on his head.

OK, maybe he won’t have to be quite that good. This Chicago team has a few issues of its own right now too, with injuries to Kane and Toews and a distinctly Hangover-ish look about them these days. What, Varly can’t outplay Corey Crawford in a playoff series? I think he can.

Teams almost never overcome the loss of a star player in the long term. But in the short term, it can and often does happen. The Avs might even play better as a five-man unit defensively now that Duchene is out – something they haven’t been doing all that consistently of late and would need to in the playoffs, Duchene or no Duchene.

Boy, it must be bad when Dater is the one telling everyone “it’s not so bad.”

… but I agree with him.

Also, maybe I’m in denial (probably) but a part of me is also thinking this is a tiny bit conservative or maybe even a little gamesmanship to suggest that Duchene isn’t going to be able to return until the 2nd round. Something tells me we’ll see him play before the first round is up.

tigervixxxen

Nope, not denial at all. Duchene is not going to miss the playoffs by one week, come on. If it was an 8 week or more injury yes of course but he’s young, strong and determined. I fully expect to see him in round one. PA beat the timetables for his knee injuries and he’s over 30.

Also, enough with this woe is the Avs stuff. Does anyone remember the game in Chicago the Avs won when they didn’t even dress a full team, Stastny and PA were out and EJ got injured and played only 13 minutes. Of course it won’t be easy (I hate having to qualify with this any time I write that the Avs aren’t completely screwed).

Cougs_suck

I sure hope you’re right.

Chris DeMott

Dude! You forgot Bourque! How could a Bostonian forget Bourque! It’s not like he’s not in every flashback ever shown of that Cup presentation…

Chris DeMott

Speaking of Ray Bourque, I believe that he returned from a very similar MCL sprain right before the playoffs in ’01. It is great news that Dutchy didn’t injure the ACL and should recover his speed in a relatively short time. Beware that he likely won’t be the same type of explosive skater for a bit after he returns as those muscles do get out of game shape, so a proper recovery is in order even if it means missing more time. Besides, this is a great development opportunity for Mackinnon.

Kate Olson

We’ve said it all season. I think it needs to be said now more than anything, the Avalanche did the very things that no one else said they could do this season. The more they said the Avalanche will sink, the boys said.. just watch us fly! Patty and the boys have brought a pulse back to Denver hockey, and it’s been a glorious thing to witness!

I’ve watched Dutchy from his first game, and you could tell he had that something special then. I’ve worn the #9 simply because that’s been the player that makes my eyes go wide and thing.. DAYUM.. that’s my team. That’s the Avalanche people turn their noses up at.

The Avalanche is back! The Avalanche has brought in the new era, and the Avalanche will show why they’ve been and they will be ‘that’ team.

We’ve said it all season. I think now it’s more powerful than ever.

#WhyNotUs

Colorado Gary

Too many centers! Too many centers! That’s been the cry. Well, now one is down and it’s good we have so many. Plug MacKinnon in there until Dutchy returns. He just might flourish playing with ROR and Ginner. The Avs have always had a lot of firepower and still do, even with Tangs, Dutchy and PA out.

Not everyone has to be a high-point guy. You can plug guys into Roy’s system, be responsible defensively, and try to control the game – and there’s Varly when things get out of control. Then your shooters pick their spots and fill the nets with vulcanized rubber.

Go Avs!

Cougs_suck

This is a big blow. Hopefully he can get back sooner than expected and they can hold onto home ice during his absence.

19knight21

Well I seen Toews get hit by dirty Orpik so maybe his shoulder will be reeling for a month lol Pittsburgh hit them hard all night. You can overcome some injuries but not a ton. I am hopeful he will return in game # 3 in Chicago barring they hold onto home ice. :)

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.